The Frame in Storage

The disassembled frame to Henry Clay in the U.S. Senate had been stored for 55 years. It suffered water damage and chips, bore a heavy coat of dirt, and had been splattered with paint.

A Jigsaw Puzzle

Conservators had to determine the proper arrangement of the frame’s numerous pieces. Note the greyish appearance, caused by a heavy coat of dirt.

Damaged Pieces

Many of the decorative corner pieces suffered losses, as seen here. A master carver replicated the missing portions.

Assembling the Details

Conservators reassembled the frame’s many pieces, guided by a small vintage stereograph from 1872 and also by markings on the back of the pieces.

Cleaning the Frame

After the frame received an extensive cleaning, a conservator performed tests to determine the best method to rejuvenate the finish.

Restoring the Finish

The frame’s exceptional decorative carving and richly colored Honduras mahogany is revealed during restoration of the finish.

Construction Methods Revealed

The five-layerd mahogany construction of the frame retained much of its structural integrity despite many years in storage.

Stabilizing the Frame

Repeated changes in humidity and temperature during storage caused some deterioration of the animal hide glues used to bind the frame together. Conservators re-glued the frame's weakened elements.

The Assembly Process

Conservators worked for over a year to repair and reassemble the frame.

Damaged Gesso and Gilding

The delicate gilded inner frame suffered more damage in storage than the durable mahogany outer frame. Areas of loss were filled with gesso (a type of plaster), in preparation for the application of new gold leaf.

Water Gilding

Conservators used a traditional technique of water gilding to restore the inner frame. A previously applied adhesive layer was moistened with water to receive an application of thin gold leaf.

A Traditional Process

A fine, natural bristle brush was used to apply the gold leaf without tearing the fragile material, as part of this age-old gilding process.

Burnishing the Frame

After applying the gold leaf, conservators used an agate tool to burnish the frame surface, smoothing out seams and wrinkles and imparting a rich sheen.

Assembling the Details

The expertly restored corner pieces make a handsome statement on the Victorian-era frame. Much of the original metal hardware survived and is still used in the frame.

Frame and Painting Reunited

Once restored, the frame was assembled for the first time in over half a century. Since the frame could have changed size slightly during years in storage, or the painting's size could have altered during the restretching, painting and frame conservators worked together to ensure an accurate fit.